Special Guest Post! Lisa O’Kane and the Battle of the Boys!

I have a special post for you today. My dear friend Lisa O’Kane stopped by and brought with her the two main love interests in her debut novel ESSENCE. Things are a little crowded in here, so I’m just going to step over here and let them have the floor.

We are here today to interview the two delicious love interests in Lisa Ann O’Kane’s ESSENCE. Ryder and Javi, welcome to the blog! What’s the first thing you want our readers to know?

RYDER: *Pipes up before Javi can* Hey Darke, and thanks a lot for hosting us. The first thing I want you guys to know is that you’ve been lied to your entire lives. The length of your life has nothing to do with the emotions you feel. The Essence theory is just a crock of shit.

JAVI: *Clears his throat and glares at Ryder* I’d like you to know there are some things in the world worse than the Essence theory. Like assholes.

Um… Okay. Well, thanks a lot for that. How about we shift focus? Why don’t you both tell me a little bit about the first time you met Autumn Grace?

RYDER: *Smiles at the memory* Red came crashing into my life a few months ago. She was beautiful, for sure, but I could tell she was broken, too. She’d lost her foundation, and she needed something to believe in. I wanted to help her.

JAVI: You sure did that, didn’t you, buddy? *Clears his throat* Sorry. Ahem… Autumn is impossible to miss. She has all this hair, and it’s like this red-golden halo or something. I’ve been watching her during meditation sessions in the Centrist temple for years, but I just recently found my first opportunity to talk to her.

Why do you feel like you’re a better fit for Autumn than the other guy?

RYDER: Simple. Javi coddles her, and he never challenges her to find out who she is when you strip away the layers. She’s strong, you know? A rebel. She needs someone who pushes her, who lets her test her boundaries but is also always there to catch her. That’s me, for sure. This clown can’t keep up with her.

JAVI: That’s because I don’t think she needs to prove anything! Putting herself at risk while chasing some stupid thrill isn’t going to make her into a better person. It’s just going to make her into a dead person, and I’m definitely not on-board with that.

RYDER: Red’s tougher than you think, Javi. And you’d know that if you’d ever let her breathe. *To Darke* I’ll put it like this. Javi represents Red’s past, and I represent her future. He only sees what he wants to see when he looks at her.

JAVI: Bullshit, Ryder. You’re the one who only sees—

Ahem. Sorry boys, but can we save the fistfights for later?

BOTH: *Looking sheepish* Sorry.

You have both made yourselves at home in Yosemite National Park. What’s your favorite thing about the place?

RYDER: I have been living in the park since I was a little kid, and we have yet to conquer it. I dig that. There’s great free-climbing routes on El Cap, and the base jumping is sick from the summit. Plus, there’s snowboarding in Badger Pass, highlining from Taft Point and the Lost Arrow Spire… Every day’s got something new.

JAVI: The Merced River’s my favorite; it’s just so scenic and relaxing. I could sit beside it and listen to the water all day. Also… We have shooting stars. You can watch them in the Meadow sometimes, and if you find the right blanket and the right girl to share it with… *Catches himself as he starts to drift* Well, let’s just say there are some beautiful sights.

Where in the park would you go if you could take Autumn on your dream date?

RYDER: I’d definitely nick some gas from my old man, borrow one of the Jeeps and drive her up to Glacier Point to watch the sun set. We could set up a tent back in the trees, cook some dinner over an open fire, and then… Well, it gets pretty cold up there at night. I can think of some ways I’d like to keep her warm.

JAVI: *Scowls and shakes his head* I would treat her with much more respect than that. My perfect date would be a long horseback ride to Mirror Lake followed by a delicious dinner at the Ahwahnee Hotel. We could read books in the library, go for a long walk in the Meadow… I’d let the evening take us where it wanted; I wouldn’t force it like some people.

RYDER: She doesn’t even like horses, you twerp. You’d know that if you paid attention.

Alright, guys. Well, we are almost out of time. In one sentence, what is one last thing you want readers to know about you when they pick up ESSENCE?

RYDER: This one’s easy: don’t judge a book by its cover.

JAVI: *Snickers at Ryder’s answer* I am definitely the good guy.

Thanks so much for stopping by, everyone , and we hope you have enjoyed our Battle of the Boys. Which one do you think Autumn should pick? Leave your comments below, and make sure to tune into the ESSENCE blog tour’s next stop on Monday, May 26th at My Bookish Ways (www.mybookishways.com)! Thanks for visiting!

Lisa Ann O’Kane is a young adult author and former vagabond who once camped out in Yosemite National Park for an entire summer, an experience that inspired her debut novel ESSENCE. Her background is in zookeeping and environmental education, and she has been kicked, cornered, bitten and chased by nearly every animal she has ever loved. She currently resides in Florida, and she is now a huge fan of shooting stars, indoor plumbing and keeping both her feet planted firmly on the trail.

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About Darke ConteurDarke Conteur is a writer at the mercy of her Muse. The author of stories in several genres, she prefers to create within the realms Science Fiction and Dark Fantasy. A pagan at heart, her personal goal it to find her balance within nature; exploring the dark through her stories and the light through her beliefs. When not writing or working with crystals, she enjoys knitting, gardening, cooking and very loud music.

Darke Conteur is a writer at the mercy of her Muse. The author of stories in several genres, she prefers to create within the realms Science Fiction and Dark Fantasy. A pagan at heart, her personal goal it to find her balance within nature; exploring the dark through her stories and the light through her beliefs. When not writing or working with crystals, she enjoys knitting, gardening, cooking and very loud music.